Sapele Power Plc has unveiled plans to boost power supply in the country by generating 1,500 megawatts (mw) to the national grid. The power plant, acquired in 2014 by Eurafric Power Limited, is said to be the second biggest power plant in Nigeria by installed capacity. It was commissioned in 1978 with installed capacity of 1,000mw but producing only 120mw today.
The Managing Director of Sapele Power Plc (Downstream), Odjegba Onoriode said: “Upon acquisition of the Sapele power plant, the new management put together a business plan that would ensure that the power plant regains its pride of place among power plants in the country.”
”We plan to recover the lost capacity and introduce new capacity and bridge power generation in between these two, in phases. We have a performance target set by the government to generate 400mw within five years. But our plan is much more aggressive. We intend to generate 1,500mw within five years,” he said.
Onoriode said the management had also finalised plan to acquire a new gas turbine, which would be used to replant one of the non-functional turbines. This will give an additional 145mw within a period of nine months.
“We also have plan for mass deployment of gas turbines in batches. We will deploy two gas turbines of about 125mw each – which cumulatively will produce 250mw. In-between these two projects, we might have a gap in power generation and revenue and to ensure that we remain relevant in the scheme of things within the industry,” he added.
The monarch of Okpe kingdom who was represented at the open forum by Chief Williams Ayomanor urged the power firm to ensure that the rightful owners of the land that would be acquired for the plant expansion are adequately engaged to avoid disruption of the laudable project.
